It's been 17 years. Where are the cicadas?

Question

I live in Southeastern MA and they're nowhere to be seen. However, when my family went up to the Cape (over the Bourne bridge specifically), they were everywhere! On the highway, they were all over the place. There were some bouncers off the windshield, and 3 just went splat (yuck!).

So, my question is, why are they prevelent in the Cape, but not inland?

Answer 1

According to this site http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/scienceques2003...

you may be late. They've already disappeared from our area too. An especially dense knot of cicada emerge in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and northern Virginia, so I'm guessing you missed them.

If the soil was dug up (let's say you live in a subdivision that was built 10 years ago) those cicadas that were in the ground are now gone. So while you may have them other places- they wouldn't be in the ground where you live.

Another possible reason would be weather. Cicadas will emerge on consecutive nights when the soil temperature is approximately 63 degrees F (17 C).

I wish I could be of more help.

Answer 2

Be patient; their emergence time can vary. Perhaps proximity to water and the attendant milder winters has something to do with it.

Answer 3

I blame global warming on this one since they are found in warmer areas now.

Answer 4

good question.  Has global warming affected their cycle?